End post construction for highway guardrails and the like



Feb. '7, 1939. E. J. RUSSERT Ef AL 2,146,445 .l END POST CONSTRUCTION FOR .HIGHWAY GUARDRAILSYAND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1937 2 sheets-sheer llll Y gwen/bom 'dMald'J/weferlmd y@ ww 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. .1. RUssL-:RT ET A1.

Filed April 1e, 1937 vEND POST CONSTRUCTION FOR HIGHWAY GUARDRAILS AND THE LIKE Feb. 7, 1939.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,146,445 A END POST CONSTRUCTION FOR HIGHWAY GUARDRAILS AND THE LIKE Application April 16, 1937, Serial No. 137,250

4 Claims.

The invention relates to end post construction particularly adapted for use in connection with highway guard construction, and more particularly to that form of construction in which a metal guard rail is supported in tension betwen opposite end post constructions and upon a plurality of intermediate posts.

Prior to the present improvements, it has been usual to provide wooden or metal posts, both for the intermediate posts and the end post constructions, and which are not adapted for being driven TYtto position, but which require the digging of holes for the proper positioning thereof at the side of the highway, and in the case of the end post construction require the digging of enlarged holes for applying the necessary baffle means, and frequently the provision of concrete footers for each post.

In our copending application, Serial No. 137,251, vfor United StatesLetters Patent for improvements in Metal post construction, we disclose a metal post construction which is more particularly adapted for use as the intermediate post in highway guard construction. Y

the provision of improved end post construction particularly adapted for use in highway guard construction, and which may include as a part thereof one or more posts including the improvements of our said copending application for U. S.

Letters Patent for Metal post construction.

More particularly the objects of the present invention include the provision of end post construction particularly adapted for use in highway 35 guard construction and which may include an end post and an anchor post each adapted for being driven into the ground at the side oil the highway without requiring that a hole be dug for the placement of the post, and at the same time being provided with suitable baille means, thereby greatly reducing the total cost of the completed highway guard construction.

The nature of the improved end post construction of the present invention may be described in generalterms as including an end post preferably formed of sheet or strip metal, and adapted for being directly driven into the ground, and having provided thereon baille means preferably formed of sheet or strip metal, and the baille 50 means being so arranged with the end post so as to permit the direct driving of the end post with the bafe means into the ground.

An -anchor post is also provided preferably formed of sheet or strip metal and having preferably metal baille means secured Vthereon and ar- The objects of the present invention include ranged so that the anchor post with the baille means may be directly driven into the ground.

Preferably a compression brace memben'preferably made of metal, is connected at opposite ends with the end post and with the anchor post, the anchor post being preferably driven so that its top is elevated only a short distance above the ground level and the brace member extending therefrom at an acute angle with the ground level, and beneath the preferably metal guard rail, one end of which is secured to the end post of each improved end post construction.

By way of example, an embodiment of the preferably all metal end post construction of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an all metal highway guard construction including an embodiment of the present improved end post construction, portions of the ground being broken away for more clearly illustrating the details of construction, arrangement, and installation, and the highway guard construction being shown looking at the end and away from the road side thereof;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary elevation view thereof looking at the road side thereof; and

Fig, 3, a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The preferably all metal end post construction of the present invention is indicated generally by I and is included as the end post construction of an all metal highway guard construction indicated generally by Il and including in addition to the end post construction I0 a plurality of Aintermediate posts one of which is illustrated and indicated generally by I2 and a usual band steel guard rail indicated generally by I3 is secured by usual means indicated generally by I4 tothe intermediate post I2, and by usual resilient and bolt means indicated generally by I5 to the end post construction I0.

As shown, the intermediate post I2 is in the form of an all metal post which may be directly driven into the ground foundation I6, and is set forth in detail in our copending application for U. S. Lette-rs Patent for Metal post construction, executed April 8, 1937.

The improved end post construction I0 of the present invention includes the foundation I6, which may be termed a ground foundation, and which is predominantly composed of the usual material of the ground or earth at the side of a highway indicated generally by I'I.

The improved end post construction furthermore includes an end post indicated generally by I8 and an anchor post indicated generally by I9 laterally spaced from each other and driven into the ground foundation I6, and a preferably compression brace member indicated generally by Z which is preferably removably secured at one end by cap screw means 2| to a transversely extending angle connector member 23 secured as by Welding to the upper end of the anchor post I9 above thev level 24.0f theground foundation I6.

The other end of the brace member 2U is secured as by bolt means 25 toa transversely extending angle connectormember 26 secured as by Welding to the end post I8 above vthe ground foundation level 2li and just below the resilient bolt connector means I5 for the-,end-of Ythe guard rail I3.

Accordingly as illustrated the brace member :Zilfextends 'at `an acuteangle to the ground foundation level ,24 between the anchor post I9 and .theend post I8.

The'end post i8 and the anchor post I9 are each formed of metal having longitudinally ex- `tendingvvalls and having a transverse cross section the thickness of which is-substantially less .than its over-all width, and which may be a V `rtransverse cross section as best shown. in Fig.

3, `the :post being preferably formed of sheet or Vstrip steel.

As shown both the lend post I8 and the anchor Vpost rI9 `are provided with formed metal caps 21 which are preferably-secured to the upper ends thereof .as by peripheral Welds, as set forth in ydetail in our said copendingapplication for U. S. Letter-s Patent vfor Metal post construction.

`respectively-by 2 9 and 29 which diiler from each other only as shown in the length thereof.

Each baille means 29 and 29 extends preferably .across the Iv opening from opposite sides of the post to which it is secured and is formed of metal and has a transverse cross section the thickness of which is substantially less than its over-all width so that the baille means is adapted for being directly driven into the ground foundation :with the post to which it is secured.

VAs shown, and preferably each baille means 23 and ,29' is in the form of a baille plate made of corrugated metal, and the ribs and the troughs of the corrugated metal preferably extend longitudinally of the post for facilitating the direct driving of the post with the baille means into the ground.

All the parts of the end post i8 and the anchor post I9 are preferably made of metal and the brace member 2li is also preferably made of metal, as shown a .channel member.

The metal end post I8 and the metal anchor post IQ'each having the metal baille means 2S or 29' secured thereto is adapted for being directly driven into the ground foundation i5, the baille means of each post being directly driven into the ground foundation I3 with the post to which it is secured.

In order to avoid tipping of the end post I3 and the anchor post .I9 in the direction of the pull of the guard rail I3, it is necessary that some form of baille means be provided, but prior to the present improvements, a metal post with a metal baille means secured thereto has not been available Which, With its baille means, could be directly driven into a ground foundation.

As shown in Fig. 3,*in'dot-dash lines, a baille means 29 may be securedto the opposite face of end post I0 instead of at the place shown in full lines across the V opening, or if desired, in

Vaddition to thebaillemeans shown in full lines.

Referring `to Figs. 2 and 3, a bolt support 30 is provided on end post I0 for maintaining the upper bolt I5 substantially horizontal. The purpose of this is 'to prevent the Weight of the spring section of the guard rail from sagging. The upper edge of the bolt support 30 is located preferably in a plane tangential with the bottom of the corresponding bolt hole in the closed face of the lpost Ill; and the angle 26 is located in a like manner-With respect to the bottom bolt so Vas'to similarly support the bottom Ybolt means i5. The bolt hole for the lower bolt may be an elongated 'one so that railings-of diilerent styles can be fastened by-bolts to the end post l2 Without interference,

The adaptability of the end post and anchor post of the present improvements with their baille means for being directly driven into the ground foundation, greatly reduces the time and thus'thecost of erecting a highway guard.

The embodiment of 'the .improved lend post construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is -not limited to the same or to the particular details thereof, but is commensurate with any and all novel subject matter contained herein, and Which may at any time properly under the patent laws be set forth in claims hereof or which may originate herein, the elements of any of the claims being intended to include their reasonable equivalents.

We claim:

1. A post, for end post construction for 'high- Way guards and the like, the post being formed of metal vhaving `longitudinally extending Walls and having a transverse V cross sectionthe thickness of which is substantially less than its overall Width so vthat the post is adapted for being directly driven into a ground foundation, and the post having longitudinally extending baille means secured to the post across the V opening and extending from opposite sides thereof and being formed of metal and having a transverse cross section the thickness of which is substantially less than its over-all Width so that the baille means is adapted for being directly driven into a ground foundation with the post.

2. A post, for end post vconstruction for high- Way guards and the like, the post being formed `of metal having longitudinally Yextending Walls and having a transverse V cross section the thickness of which is ysubstantially less than its overall Width so that the post is adapted for being directly driven into a ground foundation, and the post having a longitudinally extending baille plate secured to the post across the V opening and extending from opposite sides thereof and being formed of metal having a transverse cross section Whose thickness is substantially less than its over-.al1 Width so that the baille plate is adapted for being directly driven into a ground foundation With the post.

3. A post, for end post construction for high- Way guards and the like, the post being formed of metal having longitudinally extending Walls and having a transverse V cross section the thickness of which is substantially less than its overall Width so that the post is adapted for being directly driven into a ground foundation, and the post having a longitudinally. extending baie plate secured to the post across the V opening and extending from opposite sides thereof and being formed of corrugated metal.

4. A post, for end post construction for highway guards and the like, the post being formed of metal having longitudinally extending Walls 

